Driving Doctor Summers

January 26, 2009

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine working on the Obama
Inaugural Committee offered me the unexpected but certainly un-missable
opportunity to "drive in Obama's motorcade." I immediately pictured myself in a
black Suburban, making small talk with minor officials and waving at the crowds
as we inched along--but this image was quickly dispelled: The offer was to
drive, as a chauffeur. What my
qualifications were I have yet to uncover. But on Monday, January 12, I drove
General James Jones and Larry Summers in the president-elect's motorcade, and my
adventure has been chronicled in this week's Talk of
the Town. (I also passed the job along to my friend, and regular Plank
contributor, Isaac Chotiner, who is
in the piece as well. Not included, however, is the "strong, manly look in the
eye" the President gave Isaac.)

The line of the day, from a secret service agent
explaining my mission to me: "Don't hit anything, and drive like you stole
it."